Explore the language and world of Shakespeare. Between theater (four shows at the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company), lectures with eminent scholars, exclusive behind-the-scenes tours and museum visits, you will have time to explore Shakespeare's family homes and enjoy the shops and streets that make Stratford-upon-Avon a unique destination. Click here for more information.

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The 2016 English-Speaking Union Annual Conference

National Announcement

The 2016 English-Speaking Union Annual Conference, hosted by the Central Florida ESU Branch, drew members from all over the country to the Sheraton Orlando North Hotel in Maitland (Winter Park) for an enjoyable and productive weekend October 13 – 15, 2016. Business sessions included a meeting of the National Board of Directors, a working conclave for the National Board and Branch Presidents, and meetings of the ESU Branches by Region. The 96th Annual General Meeting of the English-Speaking Union took place on Saturday, October 15.

The primary function of the National Board meeting was adoption of the English-Speaking Union Strategic Plan for English in Action which the Board had developed during the prior year, and which will guide the ESU's organizational activities through the next five years. Discussion of the Strategic Plan and final steps in the restructuring of the Branches into Limited Liability Companies formed agenda discussion items for the Board and Branch Presidents Conclave.

Third Annual ARNIC Graduation Reception

National News

On May 18, the English-Speaking Union Andrew Romay New Immigrant Center celebrated its third year with a graduation ceremony attended by more than 100 graduates, their family and guests, and ESU teachers and volunteer tutors. The Open Society Foundations, a major supporter of the program, hosted the event at their offices in New York City.

The Andrew Romay New Immigrant Center (ARNIC), named for the program's key visionary and supporter, seeks to improve the lives of recent immigrants by providing resources and information to help them improve their English skills, assistance in exploring work and study opportunities, networking, and acquiring cultural fluency so that they may participate fully in American society. Launched

The three winners of the 2016 English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition on stage at Lincoln Center in New York City. (l to r – Third place winner Cecilia Harchegani, First place winner Ari Dalbert, and Second place winner Zoë Oliver.

With a performance of a sonnet and monologue from Shakespeare on stage at Lincoln Center in New York City, ARI DALBERT from Honolulu, HI, a student of Betty Burdick at Hawaii Homeschool Association in Honolulu, won the 33rd annual English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition. The Competition took place on May 2, 2016 with 55 semi-finalists from as many ESU Branch competitions nationwide. Ari previously won the ESU Hawai'i Branch competition.

As the winner of the 33rd English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition, Ari received a full scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Young Actors Summer School in London, England, this summer. The second place winner, Zoë Oliver, representing the Greenwich Branch, won a scholarship to the American Shakespeare Center Theatre Camp in Staunton, VA, while third place winner, Cecilia Harchegani, from the San Diego Branch, received $500 from The Shakespeare Society.

Debate Team from the Hackley School wins 2016 English-Speaking Union Middle School Debate Championship Tournament

The English-Speaking Union Middle School Debate Program capped off a successful fifth year with its annual Championship Tournament, which took place at Stone Bridge Middle School in Allentown, NJ, on April 16, 2016. All six ESU Middle School Debate Program leagues participated bringing together 250 debaters from 29 schools from New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.

The English-Speaking Union Middle School Debate Program teaches the fundamentals of argumentation and debate to students in grades 5-8. Established in 2011, the program now includes three ESU-sponsored leagues in New York, two in New Jersey and one in Washington, DC. Some 50 public, private, parochial and charter schools participate in the program, engaging more than 1,000 teenagers annually in weekly after-school debate activities designed to develop and hone student's public speaking, critical thinking, listening and debating skills.